New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-21
NEW VIEWS on TIE WHISKEI TAI.
DOES IT FURNISH CORRUPTION FUNDS
A TEMPERANCE CLAIM THAT REPEAL WOULD NOT
INCREASE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TIE TAX
Is SAID TO FURNISH VAST ILLICIT
PROFITS OUT OF WHICH COME
TIE NVHTO IT''' V1''"'
Albert Grimm In The Toptkd Commonwealth.

dlOeU GTVtn IN me Ioptfd commencement
Theoretically, this tax should Increase the retail
price of whisAcy aud diminish the consumption, but,
matter of fact its influence In that direction IS
nappreciablc Tho war time rise In the price OIL dfhlAs
appears have been tho result of thode probation OF
tho currency rather than of tho tax and IFS reduction
from ~ per gallon to 30 cents and the subsequent IN
crease to cents made change whatever IN ret all
prices. Tho probabilities are, therefore that tho re,
peal OF he tax would not affect the retail price, and
II is the tail and no; the Wholesale price that directly
affects consumption Tho first cost Of drink oil
" his key amounts to song IN comparison with
the rent lights, fuel, salaries living and other nSrod
cnts and sdjuncts. If, them the tax does not d.
cause of tcmperauccl Aud IS IT not fdrccal, not TO
say dishonest to defend tax the glOund that II
IS imposed for restrictive purposes, If 1t does not
restrict
OF the two principal objections to these taxes, from
temperance standpoint, the hrot Is purely SEM.
mental but with many II IS controlling as the most
powerful argument would be. There is something
shocking TO many of US about the very dea 81 imposing
taxes solely for revenue that really, though not
technically laid upon the vices and miscrics If man
kind, and It crates all tho moro har7hly when IT IS
known that the proceeds Of other and uniclt taN",
exceed the needs Of tho government. Is not tax
which dminie; no evil and confcrS 10 good ON the
income moro than useless Is It right or polite to
pcrpeuate such tax In opposition to the con'ciences
and feelings Of a million voters
Tho second objection IS that It rBshe, an enormous
corruption fund. Previous to the var, the Wholesale
half of which (for the argument VIII assume was
profit, and The present price rs stated IN I'M nL~
on December ., ranged from a % To III -, boiling
from 10 to % cents above tho tax, half OF which
also assume to be profit
Assuming again that without the tax whiskoy would
be sold for 20 cents. half Of which would be profit 1t
will be that the honest dster makes 10 cents on
outlay Of 81, which Is 10 per cent whc those who
cvade the tax make 81 on an outlay OF 10 cents. of
1000 per cent. Tho temptation to Illicit dStilllnS
again pure xhshsy should contain 80 her cen cent OF
This bogus whsbcy, made by the addition Of watcr and
deadly drugs costs trle and those who make u
get at least double the profit Of the honest di'tlcr
and then 90 cents gallon on that Tho temptation
TO 80 per cent In this way IS therefore even greacr
than 1t Is TO ds,llcra to evade the tax and there -
almost risk
II is probably safe TO assume that not much II any
more than ono half OF The stuff which Is sold a. whshcy
pays g@ernment tax, and, II that IS the case, as
honest se aud dealers poke row here between
s3o,O0O,OO0 and sGOOOO,OCO year BY tax evasion
and authorizations. Tho removal Of the tax would at
once reduce the premium on Nllltny o cents Canon
and tho profit on adulieratiOn would hc reduced 10 A
few cents gallon, and less impure liquor would DO
made.
These enormous dishonest profits not divided
among the several hundred thousand retailers, but go
mainly into the pockets Of discrs and whOlc> alors
and these are the mon who furnish tho great tuk Of
tho money to corrupt Legislatures and officials and
fight the laws In tho courts and swell anti temperance
campaign funds. The fact that tho tax works TO
their advantage ls demonstrated by the unanImty with
which they oppose It's repeal Remove II and thrlf
corrupt gains would he confined TO few cents gallon
the adulteration which would doubtless continue
q smaller scale. Fortunes could not be made IN few
years and the abc-t would soon abandon the
business and leave It in the hands Of those who, like
tho average dramsccr, too stod. ignorant,
picious and greedy to DO formidable opponents.
Tho tax on the business Is not Opon to tho second
objection against that the article. but II Is
needed II cannot be defended tho rcvennc idea, AMI
is equally Objectionable with tho other the first
ground TO call 500 restrictive" tax IS the quin
OF absurdty. II tax IS 10 be continued for
restrictive purposes II should 10 increased enough to
make IL restrict, 10 81 900.
Many Republican COngrcssmcn would vote for the
repeal Of these taxes. that strengthen the powersof
evil but for the belief that their earnest temperance
constituents want them retained 1t VIII be we'll,
therefore. for those Of them who reflection agrees
with in my cOnclusionstO let their Congress mon
know how they stand